Vacation in Hotel Venezia Palace (Antalya): art of self-satisfaction

In the day, when we decided to move in hotel Venezia Palace I was not in the best mood. Maybe dull weather was guilty, or maybe I was angry on myself, because 3 days in a sequence we slept away on the plane. Whatever, all my depressive minds ran away just I entered this unusual place. My hands automatically took camera, and I started to take pictures.

Unfortunately I had enough time for pictures: we spent on registration more than 1 hour. I still can't understand why: there were not much visitors. It wasn't the hottest point of season (end of September).

Lobby helped me to brighten a time in the reception. I ordered Martini and juice (for my son), and absence special glasses for alcohol drink in such luxurious hotel made me wonder.

About rooms

Design of Venezia Palace - something marvelous, but it seems like architect didn't finish his job. Accommodations were in usual buildings, without any hint about beautiful city.

There are 3 living blocks in Venezia Palace. All of them have the similar design

Our room was not big. On the reception we learnt that there are no family rooms in hotel, but I am not sure it was true. We had 2 beds, wardrobe, TV, air conditioner, small bar, terrace.

Room service was good, and attentive to details. What I didn't like in the room - Internet. Hotel can't offer tourists even surcharge Wi-Fi! If somebody need urgently connect with anyone, he should run to Lobby. Just there is free Wi-Fi, and there Internet speed was good.

About food

The main restaurant of Venezia Palace - Bellini Restaurant. Menu there was almost the same in the breakfast and launch. In the evening, it was possible to try something attractive. First time when we came here for the dinner I found few kinds of sushi. I couldn't ignore that dish, and filled my saucer. I made that tasting just once and never repeated anymore: sushi, sauce - all were bad! However, in my next dinner in Bellini restaurant I chose shrimps, mussels, fish, and was happy. I liked that Restaurant because there were light and healthy foods. There are few sections: for babies, diet menu, and bar, where possible to order different kind of drinks.

Bellini Restaurant also has area, where possible to smoke. I can not call it summer playground, because its not opened. However, there wasn't any smell of cigarettes

The negative thing - absence screens, I didn't try some dishes, because I couldn't understand what it was.

In the launch time we went to the Tea Garden, where served ice cream, tea, Turkish coffee. Ice cream was available from 12 to 6 p.m., after started "hard food", with grill sausages, meat, fresh bread.

As we learnt from animators to try ice cream was possible also in Cafe Florian, but I couldn't find this place!

Venezia Palace also has 4 restaurants A'La Carte: Italian, Brazilian, Asian, Fish Restaurant. For any alcohol there visitors should pay. In Asian Restaurant all dishes in menu need money.

About pools

There are 3 swimming pools: huge, closed (in the same building with ping-pong), and tiny (for kids).

Gondola Bar is the main attraction of big pool. It is located in the middle of the pool, and there barman served perfect Tequila. For kids they make special non-alcohol cocktails.

Till the day near the pool animators didn't organize any parties, dances or water aerobics. Thats why most of the visitors concentrated near the Gondola Bar

Also there is a Jacuzzi into the pool, which works till 5 p.m. I don't know why, I all time got cold there, and this forced me to swim. I am not professional swimmer, but I was not happy with deep of pool: 1.40 m. maximal. I couldn't make diving, I couldn't swim, but I could play in water polo. Unfortunately, only my rivalswas Sasha, who scared to stay in the cold water, that's why he putted gate on the land and shouted: "Shot!"

Venezia Palace also has its own beach. Near the beach we found area for relaxation, and small bar

About attractions

In the day tourists can play in ping-pong, water polo, mini-football, use water-slides, or visit Campanille Tower, where opened perfect view on the hotel. All equipments are in animators, but almost all time they were closed. First day I thought that we were just one visitor in this hotel, but in the night I changed my mind.

After dinner started work amphitheatre. For kids there were something like fast-disco (30 min), after started show-programs.

It was night of Flamenco, and was so perfect...

We liked time in amphitheatre the most: it was really attractive. After show some tourists moved to area with live music. Maybe there would be more funny, if singers and animators were not so sleepy.

Night life in Venezia Palace focused in La Piazza Club. It's a pretty place with white furniture, and open area. Music there was perfect, and to dance there - real pleasure. People, who decided to visit that night club possible was to count on the fingers, but for us it was huge plus - more free spare on the dance floor.

We liked design of Venezia Palace, and uncrowned after crazy Topkapi Palace had own charm. We didn't spend our time for searching free chaise-longue. In the evening we could easy find free tables for dinner. One more plus - lower, than in Topkapi and Kremlin Palace prices (130 euro/night).

But tourists, who look for colorful impressions, crazy night life, will be disappointed. Maybe the reason was the season: it was end of September, and Turkish schools started to facilitate. Maybe the reason of such silence was animators team: they were not active, and till the day they looked like bored. How can tourist get positive impulse from them?! Anyway, we brought with us in suitcase positive mood, and we spent good time in Venezia Palace.

Отель Kremlin Palace: маленькая частица России в Анталии

Туристы, которые решат во время отдыха в Анталии расположиться в отеле Topkapi Palace, получат дополнительный бонус: возможность посещения отеля Kremlin Palace. У этих двух отелей один хозяин: те, кто останавливается в одном из них, могут бесплатно посещать бассейны, столовую, пляж, принимать участие в различных мероприятиях другого отеля. В сентябре 2015 года некоторое время мы проживали в Topkapi Palace и, конечно же, не могли не навестить его российского соседа.

Первому визиту мы обязаны аниматорам Topkapi Palace. Они предложили посетить «масштабную дневную вечеринку, которая устраивается 1 раз в 2 недели, и которой можно насладиться только в рамках Kremlin Palace». Это было яркое шоу, с певцами, танцорами, роботами (!) Я пожалела, что не взяла с собой фотоаппарат. Зафиксировать танцоров во время их занятия не составило бы большого труда: скользкий пол и высокие каблуки сковывали их движения. Хотя в их выступлении акцент был сделан не на танцы, а на яркие купальники. Более подвижной оказалась певица, которая старательно пыталась шевелить губами в такт звучащей фонограммы. Таланты экзотических красавиц явно впечатлили турецких и арабских мужчин: некоторые из них начали прыгать в бассейн, чтобы подплыть к сцене и оказаться поближе к выступающим.

Основная масса мероприятий при отеле организовывалась на сцене возле главного бассейна

Второй раз мы посещали Kremlin Palace во время матча между Fenerbahce и Besiktas, - турецкими футбольными командами. У нас была возможность созерцать игру на большом экране, который установили возле главного бассейна.

Пока мой сынуля внимательно наблюдал за матчем, я решила прогуляться к пляжу. 

Дорога к морю была весьма роскошной и романтичной

По дороге я увидела множество сувенирных лавок с российскими надписями.

Цены на сувениры уж очень завышены (как и на все остальное). Однако те, кому лень выезжать в центр Анталии за презентами просто обожают подобные магазинчики

Мое внимание привлекло небольшое живописное здание - Pushkin Café. Здесь с 14.00 до 18.30 подавали сладкие десерты с чаем.

Пляж оказался пустым. Я решила ознакомиться с рекламными буклетами небольшого киоска: в дневное время можно было заказать тур на корабле, заняться парасейлингом, дайвингом. Не помню точных цен на указанные развлечения, но они точно были не низкими. После короткой прогулки я вернулась к своему фанату Besiktas и мы вместе наблюдали за матчем.

Отдых в Kremlin Palace - отдых в роскошных апартаментах на берегу Средиземного моря

В целом, большинство мероприятий организовывались в Kremlin Palace, но отдыхающих из Topkapi Palace информировали почти о каждом из них.

Об архитектуре

Архитекторы Kremlin Palace определенно знали свое дело. На относительно небольшом участке земли они смогли воссоздать Воскресенские Ворота, Красную Площадь, Храм Василия Блаженного и множество других исторических достопримечательностей российской столицы. Однако без элементов турецкой культуры здесь не обошлось:

·    Ресторан Car Cadiri. Основные блюда меню – гёзлеме (прототип блинчиков с сыром), манты. Расположено это место в нескольких метрах от пляжа, и работает с 12.00 до 17.00. Входить в купальниках запрещено.

·  Pasha Restaurant. Ресторан традиционной турецкой кухни, который открывает свои двери в 19.30.

О дизайне интерьеров

У меня не было возможности осмотреть номера Kremlin Palace, но исходя из того, что я увидела на сайте отеля, а также, судя по дизайну Лобби, могу утверждать, что Kremlin Palace более роскошный, чем Topkapi Palace. Естественно, стиль у отелей разный, но мебель в Kremlin Palace более новая и яркая.

О еде

Столовая расположена на втором этаже, в том же здании, где и Лобби. Я пыталась отыскать лестницу, но не смогла: для этих целей здесь был только эскалатор.

Любители русской кухни были бы счастливы побывать в этой столовой. Практически все вторые блюда, салаты, десерты были приготовлены в традициях русского стола. Но были здесь свои недостатки:

ü    Отсутствие диетического меню. Возможно, повара готовят диетические блюда, но зал столовой не маленький, а посетителей здесь всегда много. Не хотелось бы тратить свое время на поиски необходимой пищи.

ü    Небольшой выбор супов. Первые блюда занимают важное место в рационе питания русского человека. Супчик не должен быть слишком жирным и слишком густым. Было бы отлично, если бы повар научился варить суп с капустой (но без баранины!).

Даже в полночь в столовой можно найти, чем полакомиться

Скрасить свои вечера в Kremlin Palace отдыхающие могут, зарезервировав столик в одном из ресторанов A’La Carte. Отель укомплектован 5 ресторанами:

· El Somrero. Ресторан мексиканской кухни. Расположен в здании «Храма Василия Блаженного».

·    Pasha Restaurant. О данном заведении я упоминала выше.

·  Marina Restaurant. На протяжении дня это место пользуется популярностью среди маленьких туристов, которые приходят сюда, чтобы полакомиться гамбургерами и картошкой фри. В вечернее время отдыхающие постарше штудируют меню ресторана в поисках вкусных блюд из морепродуктов.

Возле Marina Restaurant находится небольшое футбольное поле с живописной зеленой лужайкой. Она была настолько живописной, что мы с сыном решили там прилечь на несколько минут:)

·   Sushi Restaurant. Находится в том же здании, что и Лобби, на втором этаже. Я не была в восторге от главного блюда этого ресторана. Рыба для суши не отличалась свежестью, была немного суховатой. Соевый соус своей горечью окончательно портил вкус моего любимого блюда.

·  La Condola. Здесь можно отведать блюда итальянской кухни. Возле ресторана есть большая летняя площадка, где после 21.00 начинала звучать живая музыка. Не знаю почему, - посетителей здесь было мало (по сравнению с Topkapi Palace).

Недалеко от летней площадки, где каждый вечер звучала живая музыка, находится главный Бар отеля. Здесь готовят различные коктейли, варят турецкий кофе

На дискотеку мы не ходили, но как-то мы решили заглянуть в Diva Bar (который работает круглосуточно), чтобы оценить качество коктейлей из Martini. Напитки нам понравились, поэтому мы заказали еще.

После мы вернулись в наш любимый Topkapi Palace.

Говорить о том, что какой-то один отель из двух лучше я не буду. Изюминка Kremlin Palace в его архитектуре и царской роскоши.

Но повеселиться там (как мы это делали на протяжении нескольких дней в Topkapi Palace) мы не смогли. Возможно, причиной такого затишья было время нашего визита (конец сентября). Возможно, аниматоры Русского Дворца не отличались задором и активностью. А может, этот отель не для развлечений, и люди сюда приезжают, чтобы организовать пассивный, спокойный отдых. В любом случае, данный отель уникален в своем роде и достоин внимания со стороны приезжих.

Hotel Kremlin Palace: small portion of Russia in Antalya

Tourists who will organize holidays in hotel Topkapi Palace (Antalya) will have additional advantages: free entrance to the hotel Kremlin Palace. These 2 hotels are children of the same company. Therefore, visitors can use food, beach, pools, and attractions any of them for free. In September 2015 we stayed in Topkapi Palace, and 2 times visited his Russian neighbor.

First time animators from our hotel invited us for “big daily party, which is organized just 1 time in 2 weeks, and which possible to see just in Kremlin Palace”. It was some concert with singers, dancers, robots (!) I regretted that I didn’t take my camera. At list I could take pictures of dancers: they wore colorful swimsuits, high heels and almost didn’t move (because of slippery floor). More agile was singer, but she just hold a microphone near her mouth, and sometimes moved with her lips. Especially Arabic and Turkish men were excited by their attitude. They even started to jump in the swimming pool, and swam to the dance floor, to see legibly exotic girls.

The main swimming pool of Kremlin Palace. Here were organized most of events

Second time we visited Kremlin Palace, when was football game between Fenerbahce and Besiktas (Turkish football teams). We had a chance to watch it on big screen, which was near the main pool.

Till my son attentively watched a match I decided to walk to beach.

My road to the beach was very attractive and full of romantism

On the way I saw many gift shops with Russian signboards, where played Russian music.

My attention was drawn Pushkin Café. It worked from 2 till 6.30 p.m. It was famous with sweet things and tea.

Beach was empty. I stopped near the kiosk with advertising. Here tourists could order boat trip, parasailing, diving. I don’t remember exactly prices, but it was high. After my short walk I backed to my fans of Besiktas team and we together enjoyed the match.

People, who stay in hotel Kremlin Palace have a chance to rest in unusual appartaments, which are located near the Mediterranean Sea

In general most of the events were organized in the Kremlin Palace. Most of the time, vacationers from Topkapi Palace were informed about every of them.

About architecture

Architects of this place really knew their mission. In the relatively small area they could recreate Resurrection Gate, Red Square, St Basil’s Church and many other historical attractions the capital of Russia. However, there also possible to meet some elements of Turkish traditions:

·   Restaurant Car Cadiri, where were served some traditional Turkish food: gozleme, manti. This place is near the beach, and open from midday to 5 p.m. Vacationers can’t entry there in swimsuits;

·       Pasha Restaurant. Starts to work from 7.30 p.m. and offers just traditional Turkish dishes.

About design

I didn’t see rooms of Kremlin Palace, but from Lobby’s design and photos from the site I can approve this hotel more luxurious than Topkapi Palace. Of course, they were made in different style, but furniture in Kremlin Palace more new and brighter.

About food

In the same building with Lobby, on the second floor is dining room. I tried to find usual stairs, but I couldn’t – people went there with escalator.

Fans of Russian kitchen would be happy to visit that dining room. Almost all main dishes, salads, desserts were cooked in Russian style. But that place also had some deficiencies:

ü    There wasn’t diet menu. Maybe there was possible to find some dietetic products, but dining room is not small, and there all time many people. I wouldn’t like to spend my time for searching of needed dishes.

ü    There was small selection of soups. Soup is very important dish in Russian menu. It shouldn’t be oily or too thick, and would be perfect if cooker could make Cabbage soup (without lamb!)

In the dining room even in the midnight possible to find some food

Tourists, who stay in Kremlin Palace and want to enliven their ration, can visit restaurants A’La Carte. Hotel has 5 restaurants, which work just in the evening and need reservation:

·    El Somrero. Restaurant of Mexican food. Located in the St Basil’s Church, and can make “hot” any evening;

·      Pasha Restaurant. I already mentioned about this place.

·     Marina Restaurant. Till the day small visitors come here to try hamburger with potato fried. And in the evening their parents enjoy with a sea products.

·      Sushi Restaurant. Located in the same building with a Lobby. I didn’t like main dish of this restaurant. Fish for the sushi was not fresh, a little bit dry. Soy sauce was too bitter, and gave that sushi terrible taste.

·     La Condola Restaurant. This is Italian Restaurant with big open area. Every evening after 9 p.m. was started alive music. I don’t know why but visitors there were not too much (like in Topkapi Palace).

Near the summer playground is a Big Bar, where possible to order different coctails and traditional Turkish coffee

We didn’t visit disco, but we decided to try Martini in the Diva Bar, which works 24 hours in a day. Cocktails were tasty, that’s why it was not last.

After we came back to our darling Topkapi Palace.

I don’t want to tell that 1 hotel of these 2 better than another one. Architecture, luxuries give a charm of Kremlin Palace.

Many tourists visit this place because of curiosity. But we couldn’t get fun there, like we did in Topkapi Palace. Maybe it’s because of season (end of September), maybe because of animators, but maybe people come here to rest in silence. In any case this hotel is unique about its architecture and worthy of note from tourists.